Thursday, January 31, 2013

NATPE 2013 is now over and as promised we will give you a list of the shows being offered for fall 2013 syndication. So, without further adieu, here is what is being offered (some might not be bought, so beware) for Fall 2013:

Remember this is what is being offered. Some of these entries have not gotten clearances, but if and when they do, we'll let you know. Discuss this update on our message board and we will keep that thread updated all-year until the fall. So keep checking that and stay with us! And we'll be back tomorrow for a round-up of NATPE stories/pick-ups.

It's now official! CBS Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television announced that How I Met Your Mother will return for the 2013-2014 broadcast season. All series regulars - Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan, as well as series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas - will return for the final season, where audiences will final learn the identity of the Mother. Premiering in September 2005 and currently in its eighth season, How I Met Your Mother has been a signature part of CBS's top-rated Monday comedy block. Throughout its history, it has ranked among television's top programs in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. Last year, in its seventh season, How I Met Your Mother delivered its highest ratings ever in viewers and key demographics. This year, How I Met Your Mother is averaging 9.75 million viewers, 4.0/11 in adults 18-49, 4.4/11 in adults 25-5 and 3.7/12 in adults 18-34 in live+7 data.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

We're still waiting for some final updates and news from NATPE 2013, so we won't bring you the annual what's coming up in syndication this fall list today. We hope to have that for you tomorrow...so stay with us. Anyway, we hinted last week that we would have some good news for fans of The Golden Girls and we will fulfill that promise today! As you may have noticed, The Golden Girls was pulled from the WE tv line-up a few months back. The network will be losing the rights to the sitcom this March and will not renew. They were sharing the series with the Hallmark Channel, but that network will keep airing the series and will not lose rights. However, WE tv's rights are headed to another cable network and it is TV Land! The Golden Girls joins the TV Land line-up on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17, 2013 with a weekend marathon from 3pm-11pm on both days with all the fun and laughs in Miami with Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia! In addition, for the week of March 18-22, the sitcom will have a week-long stunt in primetime as well from 7-10pm and more information on that will be announced at a later date. The sitcom will then start airing regularly after that every Mon-Sat from 7-9pm and Sundays 5-9pm - in primetime every night!

Even with this new addition, no series will be leaving the TV Land schedule, but there will be some shifting of timeslots obviously. The Cosby Show will shift out of primetime to weekdays 6-7pm (leading into Golden Girls) and will gain a late night slot on weeknights at 3:30am cutting Roseanne to just 3am on weeknights. Cosby Show will still remain airing in the large blocks on weekends with Roseanne and Three's Company blocks. Back to weeknights, M*A*S*H will also shift earlier to weekdays 5-6pm, while The Andy Griffith Show afternoon block is now cut to 4-5pm. Everything else will remain as is, but as a reminder, don't forget Curb Your Enthusiasm joins the TV Land line-up on Feb. 16 and will air Mon-Sat 2-3am and Sundays 2-6am.
For now, view the entire TV Land March 2013 schedule. Stay with us for updates and thank you for being a friend!

ABC's Comedy Wednesday sitcom starring Jane Levy and Jeremy Sisto and airs Wednesday nights at 9:30pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Jan. 30). The episode has the return of Wilmer Valderrama as Yoni. In the episode airing tonight, "Yakult Leader," when Dallas' dog Yakult becomes depressed, Dallas (Cheryl Hines) invites Yoni (guest star Wilmer Valderrama) back into their lives to help remove her negative energy. Everyone becomes enamored with Yoni except George (Jeremy Sisto), who believes Yoni really just wants Dallas back. Meanwhile Lisa Shay (Ana Gasteyer) convinces Tessa (Jane Levy) to help set Lisa (Allie Grant) up so she can get back in the dating game. The girls end up on a double date with Ryan (Parker Young) and Tessa's ex, Scott Strauss (guest star Thomas McDonell).

On this well-done all-new episode, each character shines and we are presented some characters interacting really for the first time, in particular George and Dalia (yep, Dalia and "Daddy Altman!"). The episode starts off so well with great one-liners by Sheila and Ryan while playing tennis as Tessa watches and Lisa is the "ball girl." Some things they say comes out just wrong but of course they don't mean it that way. There are two main storylines but so many different characters involved that it feels like more than two. Both storylines are balanced that there is no real main storyline, but it's obvious the lead storyline is the return of Yoni when Dallas asks him to come and help her depressed dog Yakult. Wilmer Valderrama shines in this role and his accent and personality is perfect for this. He plays kind of a guy who you question his true motives and we find out in the strangest (but funny) way if he is indeed trying to help the dog or not. While Wilmer is excellent in this return of Yoni, the storyline goes from good to great when Dalia enters the picture. She rocks it in this episode with her different interactions with Yoni, George and Yakult the dog. She's just so clueless but hilarious, as she even ends her conversation with George by saying "in closing." Ha! The other storyline is about Lisa's mother trying to get her daughter back in the dating game. She wants Lisa to reconcile with Malik, but that's not going to happen (at least not now). So, for now Sheila asks Tessa to set Lisa up and Lisa actually wants her to. Lisa seems so desperate as you will see when she "settles" with this one boy, and when I mean boy, I mean boy. When Tessa demands her to give up on him and go to an online dating site, the guy is someone that they actually know. Hint: He looks so good on paper but he's such a freaking bore, as Tessa says. Tessa and Ryan double-date with Lisa and this guy. Hilarity happens at the end when someone comes "a banging on the window." Will Lisa find love or will she just take a break from it all for now? It's a great episode with all of the characters shining, but I wish we had Chris Parnell in this one. I didn't want the episode to end, I found myself saying what Dalia says at the end of the episode..."bring it back." B+

Suburgatory is having a solid sophomore season. It might be better off paired with The Middle than Modern Family, but no matter where it airs, it doesn't take the fact away of how solid the season has been. Character have developed well and the series has been on a roll, especially since Thanksgiving. Tune in tonight because it will be following a repeat of Modern Family, so don't get confused. Suburagtory is still all-new and it's worth watching for sure tonight!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

After five successful seasons on the groundbreaking series iCarly, Jerry Trainor steps into his first starring and producing role on Nick at Nite's brand-new live-action family sitcom, Wendell & Vinnie, premiering Sunday, Feb. 17, at 8pm ET/PT. A multi-camera scripted half-hour, the series follows 30-year-old Vinnie Bassett (Trainor) living the life of a carefree bachelor, when he suddenly becomes the legal guardian of his precocious, wise-beyond-his-years nephew, Wendell (Buddy Handleson, Shake It Up) forming a hysterical odd-couple family dynamic. Nicole Sullivan (The King of Queens, MadTV) also stars as Vinnie's older unlucky-in-love sister, Wilma, with Haley Strode (Gangster Squad) as Vinnie's newly divorced neighbor and love interest, Taryn. The series will air regularly on Sundays at 8pm (ET/PT) followed by the Scott Baio original comedy, See Dad Run at its new time of 8:30pm, which returns with all-new episodes to finish off its 20-episode first season. So far 9 episodes of See Dad Run have aired and also another batch of 20 episodes have been ordered for a second season.

Wendell & Vinnie was also ordered for 20 episodes and follows Vinnie Bassett, proprietor of a pop culture memorabilia store who only takes breaks to read comic books and play video games. His bachelor life comes to a halt when he assumes guardianship of his incredibly intelligent and mature nephew, Wendell. They soon find that 12-year-old Wendell may be just the parent Vinnie needs. This season will find lighthearted Vinnie helping socially awkward Wendell - and vice versa - including Vinnie navigating through PTA politics to help Wendell build a school garden, a sleepover that goes awry when Vinnie becomes the center of attention and Wendell sent to detention after he helps Vinnie get closer to his vice principal. Wendell & Vinnie will also feature special guest appearances by Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons), Robin Givens (Head of the Class, House of Payne) and Willie Garson (Sex and the City). In support of the Feb. 17 premiere, NickatNite.com has launched its Wendell & Vinnie show site, which includes trailers, character information, sneak peek photo galleries and message boards as well as a "Are You A Wendell or a Vinnie?" quiz. Full episodes will also be made available after each premiere. Beginning Feb. 18, Wendell & Vinnie episodes will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox Video, Vudu, PlayStation Store and Samsung Media Hub. Viewers can keep up with the show on Twitter by following the Nick@Nite handle at @nickatnitetv and by liking the Wendell & Vinnie Facebook page.

Fox's Tuesday sitcom starring Martha Plimpton airs Tuesday nights at 8:00pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Jan. 29). In the episode airing tonight, "Modern Wedding," the wedding day is finally here and Sabrina's mom has hired the camera crew from Modern Family to capture the whole blessed event. But a series of catastrophes threatens to ruin the day, including a battle between Maw Maw and Reverend Bob (guest star Leslie Jordan). So Burt and Virginia scramble to save the ceremony and keep Jimmy and Sabrina in ignorant, matrimonial bliss.

It's the event three years in the making - Jimmy and Sabrina's wedding! Sabrina's mom thinks she will be married three or four times, so she decides to hire the Modern Family camera crew to record it. Things then go horribly wrong. Their wedding invitations are sent to an incorrect address. Virginia and Burt try to get them their marriage license as a gift. The cake is too large to fit in Jimmy and Sabrina's car. Maw Maw and Reverend Bob argue their past history. The wedding gets delayed when Reverend Bob refuses to perform the ceremony. A surprise guest from past episodes also makes a visit to the wedding.

Tonight's episode is one of the highlights of the season. It's filmed in the same style of a Modern Family episode. They have a similar opening sequence and font used in the credits. The characters talk to the cameras in a mock-documentary style. There's even a voiceover that sounds like Ed O'Neill. It's just a hilarious episode that pays homage to Modern Family. Like most episodes of the series, it has a great mix of outrageous comedy and heartwarming scenes. B+

A second episode will follow at 8:30pm. In "Yo Zappa Do, Part 1," as a wedding gift, Barney offers to fly Jimmy and Sabrina to Los Angeles for a taping of "Yo Zappa Do," Hope's favorite show. But due to Jimmy's fear of flying, the entire family embarks on a road trip instead. Meanwhile, Burt and Virginia agree to take in Ricardo (guest star Wilmer Valderrama) as a house guest, but he soon wears out his welcome.

Raising Hope is the most underrated and funniest sitcom that more people should be watching. They have quietly put together three solid seasons. I was a big fan of creator Greg Garcia's earlier series My Name Is Earl. Raising Hope has many of the same qualities. They have an excellent cast, quirky comedy, hilarious storylines, flashback scenes and guest stars galore. Virginia and Burt are a hilarious TV couple. The show performed respectably in the ratings the first two seasons, but it has struggled this season. Only around 4 million viewers have tuned in weekly. They would benefit by airing after Glee or another popular Fox show. Despite the low ratings, they were picked up for two additional episodes for season three, upping their total to 24. It wouldn't be shocking to see Fox bring the show back for a fourth season. A big syndication deal is likely coming soon.

Fox's Tuesday adorkable sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Jan. 29). And Schmidt happens! In the episode airing tonight, "Cooler," the loft dynamics change forever! Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris) go out on a "bro's night" and leave Jess (Zooey Deschanel) by herself in the loft. When her imagination gets the better of her, the guys are forced to return home, but not without some additional company – Holly (guest star Brooklyn Decker), a beautiful woman over whom Nick and Schmidt get highly competitive; and tough-as-nails Daisy (new recurring guest star Brenda Song), who helps Winston get back his mojo. An impromptu game of "Sexy True American" gets out of control, leading to a surprising development in Jess' relationship with one of her roommates.

Tonight's episode main storyline deals with Nick and Schmidt fighting over a stunning woman named Holly (Brooklyn Decker) that they meet at a bar. Winston strikes out with Holly, but he does meet Daisy (Brenda Song from The Suite Life on Deck). Song will be appearing in multiple episodes as Winston's love interest. She is quite different from his last girlfriend, Shelby. The third storyline involves Jess being left alone in the loft and trying to entertain herself by doing things like finishing a marathon. The drinking game "True American," which was featured in the first season, returns with a sexy new twist. Overall, this isn't one of the most consistently funny or strongest episodes of the season. It does feature a couple of beautiful guest stars in Brookyln Decker (as a brunette) and Brenda Song. The major development happens at the end of the episode between two of the characters. Tune in to see the big event that should set the tone for the rest of the season. B-

New Girl is having a decent sophomore season. The ratings have taken quite a dip from the first season. They are missing Glee as a lead-in and haven't been helped by the low-rated sitcoms airing around them. It would be hard to top their first season when they received five Emmy nominations and were on many people's list of top new TV shows of 2012, but they are still producing some quality and entertaining episodes. The show has been kept fresh and funny. Many guest stars have been brought in for single appearances or recurring roles, such as Carla Gugino and Olivia Munn. The adorkable Zooey Deschanel and company are certainly worth watching on Fox's Tuesday night of comedies.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Before we get into today's news, NATPE 2013 is today through Wednesday (Jan. 28-30) in Miami and we'll cover everything that is noteworthy either tomorrow and/or Wednesday, so stay tuned for our list of what is coming up in syndication in fall 2013 and other key updates!

TBS made some last minute schedule changes last week that begin...today (Jan. 28, 2013). They have added comedic obstacle series Wipeout to its weekday afternoon line-up while also adding ABC episodes of Cougar Town on the daily line-up. Wipeout will be borrowed from sister network TruTV, which is having success with the series and now it will try to bring more ratings to a struggling TBS early afternoon line-up where it is replacing recently added Rules of Engagement in the 2pm hour. Rules of Engagement will shift to the 11am hour, while American Dad! moves into the 1pm hour leading into the younger Wipeout to create a two-hour block. In other scheduling news, Rules of Engagement will be following an hour of Fresh Prince at 10am (as Are You There Yet? will just be Fridays in the 10am half-hour) and According to Jim and Everybody Loves Raymond follows in the 12pm hour. TBS has six plays a week on Are You There Yet? and they will have five of those on Fridays, one at 10am and the other four from 11pm-1am. The weekend play will be on Saturday morning at at 9am. The series is also struggling for TBS after being added this past fall.

Everybody Loves Raymond will be heavily reduced and will only air weekdays at 12:30pm and Saturdays at 3:30pm, while Friends' weekday 3:30-5:30pm block is shifted to 3-5pm so it can lead into another Courteney Cox series...Cougar Town. The classic ABC episodes from seasons 1-3 will be airing weekdays at 5pm beginning today. TBS will be skipping the first five episodes though and will start with the series' sixth episode. Not much else is changing as in primetime The Big Bang Theory continues to do big numbers and Family Guy is always durable. Big Bang is leading into new episodes of Cougar Town on Tuesdays at 10 and new reality series King of the Nerds on Thursdays at 10.

I urge you to view the entire TBS February 2013 schedule with the additions of Wipeout and earlier episodes of Cougar Town. No series will be leaving the line-up, but Are We There Yet? will be cut in days to just Fridays and Saturdays.

The 19th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards (SAG) were last night and the winners were announced. Among the big winners were Modern Family, Downton Abbey, and Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin one last time for 30 Rock.

Week 18 (Jan. 21-27) Analysis: Fox saw a good series premiere rating and Idol while down is still on top and has given Fox the lead this week. Through the first four night averages, CBS has the lead in HH/total viewers, while Fox is on top in adults 18-49. CBS is distant second place in 18-49, followed very closely by ABC, then NBC a very distant fourth. Fox is a very close second in HH/viewers, followed by ABC. Then NBC is a distant fourth and it will be a long winter for them. When the week is done, Fox will take the week in 18-49 since there is no NFL this week (well NBC has the Pro Bowl tonight, but that won't do anything to change the rankings). CBS and ABC will battle for second in adults 18-49, as that is the only battle this week. More on that later. As for last week, week 17, CBS took home first in adults 18-49 helped by two AFC Championship Game on Sunday night, crushing second place Fox, which had four hours of Idol. Then ABC and NBC were well back. Among total viewers, CBS took that crown as well, while Fox was a distant second. ABC and NBC were again behind.

Monday saw CBS take the night but Fox had a good showing. Starting with ABC, a two-hour The Bachelor from 8-10pm did 7.57 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is again up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Like any good season for this series, it goes up weekly. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 8.82 million and a solid 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. For NBC, they had a two-hour The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.11 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is on par again with previous week. It is steady but not going up like the competing ABC reality series. At 10pm, week three of new drama Deception didn't do much with 3.61 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down three more tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Not good news and doesn't have much of a future. CBS was in all-new with its comedies, as a new How I Met Your Mother did 10.07 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is great but down two tenths in 18-49 from the previous week. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 8:30pm did 10.5 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is solid but down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Is this too much Big Bang? At 9pm, a new 2 Broke Girls followed with 11.56 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from the previous week. Next, a new Mike & Molly did 10.89 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, which was down two tenths in 18-49 week-to-week. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 9.85 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week and the episode that aired the night before after the AFC Championship Game didn't help. CBS should have used that airing for something else. Poor decision. Fox aired an all-new episode of Bones at 8 and it did 8.53 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week as this series is still solid. At 9pm, the series premiere of The Following at 9pm was certainly sampled with 10.42 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is up 1.1 18-49 rating points from the previous week's Bones in the timeslot. Solid beginning. The CW aired week two of The Carrie Diaries at 8 and did 1.27 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from its series premiere the previous week. At 9, 90210 was new at its new time and did only 0.79 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, as this series should have called it quits after last season or even the previous season.

On Tuesday, it was ABC with the win in 18-49 on a slow night. First for CBS, a repeat of NCIS aired at 8 and did 12.86 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating. Next a repeat of NCIS: Los Angeles at 9 did 11.93 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, building by a tenth in 18-49 from its lead-in. And finally at 10pm, a repeat of freshman Vegas did 6.94 million and only a 1.0 18-49 rating. Onto ABC, at 8pm the two-hour premiere of The Taste did a solid 5.82 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, good for first place. If it can maintain or build on this, then ABC has a solid player. ABC preempted Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 has been pulled. Private Practice was new for its series finale doing 5.32 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 week-to-week. It ended quietly, but a perfect scene to end the series. NBC aired new episodes of Betty White's Off Their Rockers from 8-9pm. At 8pm it did 5.56 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 8:30pm it did better with 5.91 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. At 9pm, a new Go On did only 3.97 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is down an alarming four tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new series low. At 9:30pm, The New Normal was new and did 3.28 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new series low. Without The Voice as a lead-in, they are tanking, as expected. At 10pm, the season finale of Parenthood did 4.87 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Fox aired comedies as well as a new Raising Hope at 8pm did 4.00 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A new Ben and Kate did horrible with 2.53 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating at 8:30pm, and also up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. The series has now been pulled and is canceled. A new episode of New Girl followed at 9 with 4.05 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is the best of the block and up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's series low. At 9:30pm, a new The Mindy Project did 3.05 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, again on par week-to-week in 18-49 but this is still a disappointment. It is married to a 1.5 18-49 rating, it seems. The CW aired a new Hart of Dixie at 8 and did 1.45 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with previous week. A new episode of new series Emily Owens MD at 9 did 1.36 million and only a 0.4 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Wednesday had the American Idol take the night of course. But first, CBS started the night off with a repeat of Criminal Minds at 8pm doing 6.6 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up for tenths in 18-49 from previous week's NCIS repeat, which skewed so much older. At 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did a solid 11.84 million and a 3.1 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, a new CSI did 11.46 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week and more of a lead at 10pm this week. ABC kicked off the night with a new episode of The Middle doing 8.55 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 8:30pm a new episode of The Neighbors did 6.42 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, also up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Such a good show now. At 9pm, a new episode of Modern Family did the best of the block with 10.83 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, which is great but down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Suburgatory followed at 9:30pm with 6.09 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, Nashville was all-new and did 5.51 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Very strange. On Fox, a two-hour American Idol did a solid 16.07 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating, which is down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week but still higher than The Voice from this fall. Onto NBC a repeat (oh boy) of Whitney started it off at 8pm with 2.56 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, but up a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. At 8:30pm, a repeat of Guys with Kids did 2.16 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a repeat as well that did 2.65 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, which is terrible for a repeat for this series but up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, a repeat of Chicago Fire did 2.56 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. NBC was actually sixth place on this night, ouch. The CW aired a new airing of its new hit Arrow and did 3.14 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which beat the NBC comedy repeats again and on par with previous week in 18-49 again. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 2.01 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, beating NBC's repeat, and on par in 18-49 week-to-week.

On Thursday, Fox easily took the night in both 18-49 and total viewers with Idol. Starting with ABC, the finale of Last Resort did 5.48 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, back up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Good show and ending. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was new and did a solid 9.01 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. The surging Scandal at 10pm was a repeat of a big episode from last season doing 5.57 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, its best repeat performance ever. Good job. CBS had a night of repeats and opened with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory doing 11.49 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is amazing for a repeat and on par in 18-49 with previous week. This Thursday it faces Idol, will it be over a 6.0 18-49 again for the third straight new episode? I'm guessing no, but it will be close. A repeat of Two and a Half Men was up next and benefited with 8.52 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, a repeat of older-skewing Person of Interest followed with 10.01 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Should CBS opt for younger-skewing comedies next season, this series would be perfect on Tuesdays at 9 or 10 following older NCIS. At 10pm, a repeat of freshman Elementary closed the night with 7.89 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week but I don't think a post-Super Bowl episode will give this show much of a bump. Fox had a one-hour American Idol at 8 that did 15.65 million and a 5.2 18-49 rating, which was down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week when it was two-hours. Glee returned with a new episode at 9 and did 6.79 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, still couldn't hang on to #1 with a large lead-in. NBC aired new episodes of its comedies, as a new 30 Rock did just 3.81 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week as the series finale is this Thursday to kick-off February sweep. At 8:30pm, the new time of Parks & Recreation did 3.94 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Not bad for NBC Thursday these days. At 9, The Office was new and did 4.19 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is again down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A new episode of 1600 Penn followed with only 3.28 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, as it was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Still not good at all. And it got worse at 10pm with the Thursday finale of Rock Center with Brian Williams doing 3.72 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. New drama Do No Harm begins this Thursday. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and did 2.71 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is great but down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was new and did 1.79 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, losing nearly half of its lead-in's 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but it was a very slow night filled with repeats as ABC, NBC, and Fox tied for first in 18-49. CBS took the 8pm hour with a repeat of Undercover Boss, besting a new Kitchen Nightmares on Fox. ABC was first at 9pm with a repeat of Shark Tank easily beating a repeat of CSI: NY at 9. From 9-11pm Dateline did OK on NBC, growing at 10pm. CBS was third at 10pm with a repeat of Blue Bloods as ABC 20/20 took the hour. The Following series premiere encore at 9 for Fox did better than the previous week's Fringe series finale, ouch.
Saturday had Fox easily take the night with the UFC Championship, as Cops was preempted, while CBS took 10pm with 48 Hours just getting by ABC's Saturday edition of 20/20 at 10. NBC didn't do much with US Figure Skating, losing to repeats on ABC and CBS.

Tonight ABC Sunday is half new as AFV, Once Upon a Time, are repeats and Revenge is preempted at 9 for the Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Makeover from 9-11pm. Look for a third place finish. NBC devotes the night to the NFL Pro Bowl that could sneak a win over Fox. CBS is new with 60 Minutes,The Good Wife & The Mentatlist and a special repeat of NCIS is mixed in at 8. CBS will likely battle ABC for third. Fox's animation block is all new from 7:30-10pm and could battle NBC for first place on a slow night.

As for the week (week 18), Fox will likely take first in 18-49. CBS will be battling ABC for second in 18-49 and it will be close on who gets it. NBC will be way behind even with the NFL Pro Bowl really inflating their weekly average this week. For total viewers, it should be CBS on top here, then likely Fox, ABC and NBC in that order. As for the coming week (week 19), we have the start of February sweep on Thursday! It's kind of slow Mon-Wed, but look for the series finale of 30 Rock Thursday from 8-9pm and on the same night the premiere of new drama Do No Harm at 10pm. And next Sunday of course is the Super Bowl on CBS, so CBS could be repeats all week and still take the week EASILY.

Week 18 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 17 -- Jan. 14-20)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat at 8 did 3.97 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating opposite the AFC Championship Game, which was the best of the Fox block.

The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat at 7:30pm did 2.85 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, matching previous week's all-new episode. I guess no one knows when it is a new or repeat.

Bob's Burgers (Fox) 2 airings - At 8:30, a repeat did 3.18 million and 1.5 18-49 rating. A repeat earlier in the night at 7 did a similar 3.18 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is way above average.

Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat at 9 did 3.51 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, but not the best of the block.

American Dad! (Fox) - A 9:30pm airing was an encore and did 3.42 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, holding on to 100% of its lead-in in 18-49.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode at 8 did 10.07 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is above average for this season but down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special Monday repeat at 8:30pm did 10.5 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, but that was down five tenths in 18-49 from the previous week.

2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode at 9 did 11.56 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, but down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week and was only tied for the best of the block. That's not good news as it should be #1 for the block without a tie.

Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new airing at 9:30pm did 10.89 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, was down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.

Tuesday Sitcoms

Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8 pulled 4.0 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It will be airing all-new episodes from 8-9pm starting this week.

Ben and Kate (Fox) - A new 8:30pm airing did only 2.53 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's series low. However, Fox has canceled the series and has been pulled from the schedule.

New Girl (Fox) - A new showing at 9 did just 4.05 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's series low.

Go On (NBC) - A new episode at 9 without The Voice as a lead-in, did only 3.97 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down an alarming four tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new series low. Ouch.

Happy Endings (ABC) - preempted.

The Mindy Project (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 3.05 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, once again on par with previous week but continues to be a huge disappointment.

The New Normal (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 3.28 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, as it went down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a new series low, like its lead-in.

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - preempted and canceled.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8 did 8.55 million and a 2.5 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Not bad at all against Idol.

Whitney (NBC) - A repeat at 8 did 2.56 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, which is not good for a repeat but up a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week.

The Neighbors (ABC) - A new showing of this new comedy did 6.42 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Still one of the surprises of the season in quality as it gets better and better.

Guys with Kids (NBC) - At 8:30pm, a repeat of this series did 2.16 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, which is not good and down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9 did 10.83 million and a 4.2 18-49 rating, but down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. Getting a little dented by Idol, but still strong and without Bang new, this is the top scripted series of the week.

Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 6.09 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which is also down a tenth, like its lead-in, in 18-49 from previous week.

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - At 8pm, a repeat did 11.49 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is excellent and on par with previous week. New episodes return this Thursday, as February sweep begins.

Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat did 8.52 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week, but decent for a repeat.

30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8 only mustered 3.81 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, but up a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week, as we get ready for the series finale this Thursday. It won't do a 2.0 likely.

1600 Penn (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm didn't do well with 3.28 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, but up a tenth in 18-49 from the previous week. Still, I don't think this show will be lasting.

The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 4.19 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, which is again down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. No Steve Carell in the finale this May, so it won't do big.

Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode at 8:30pm did decent doing 3.94 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, but down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Still low, but decent enough for NBC these days on Thursdays.

Friday Sitcoms

Last Man Standing (ABC) - A repeat did a prelim 4.83 million and a prelim 0.9 18-49 rating.

Malibu Country (ABC) - A repeat of this new comedy did a prelim 4.17 million and a prelim 0.8 18-49 rating.

Saturday Sitcoms

None

Airing tonight (Sunday) are new airings of Fox Animation Domination comedies from 7:30-10pm following a repeat at 7.

Summing it up. Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The Middle, Mike & Molly were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as New Girl, The Neighbors) or just plain terrible (such as Ben & Kate, Go On, The New Normal).

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Welcome to Digital Digest! We've been having some pretty slow news weeks lately, but things are a bit different this week with some new announcements from the studios. And as usual, we've got a review, with this week's review being Superboy - The Complete Second Season. Let's get started!

DIGITAL NEWS

This week, the website The Wrap had some news about some big acquisitions made by Shout! Factory. Of course, we've all known that the studio has brought us some great surprises over the years, and once again, we're not being let down. First up, the studio has acquired the rights to the series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and is looking to release a complete series set later this year. The even bigger surprise, though, is the acquisition of the series Fridays, which aired on ABC in the early '80s. While the series is largely forgotten, it was essentially ABC's version of Saturday Night Live, and even featured Larry David and Michael Richards... who'd later go on to work on some other series that I need not mention, of course.

One of the biggest surprises this week came courtesy of CBS, as they announced that they would finally be releasing Family Ties - The Complete Sixth Season on DVD (four years after the last release!). According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, we can expect to see this release on April 9.

As we've frequently mentioned on here, Warner Archive is dedicated to getting Night Court completed on DVD... so it should come as no surprise that they announced the next season of the release this week, to be released on Tuesday! However, you won't have to wait until then to get Night Court - The Complete Eighth Season on DVD... you can already order it now.
Finally, we're not quite done with Warner Archive. This week, they also finished up the series The Bill Engvall Show with The Bill Engvall Show - The Complete Second and Third Seasons. This set is already shipping from Warner Archive.

After a six and a half year wait, Superboy has returned to DVD, this time from Warner Archive (instead of Warner Home Video)! With its successful first season having secured its status as a breakout syndicated hit, the series creators Ilya Salkind initiated some sweeping changes for the show's sophomore season. The biggest of the changes was the arrival of a whole new Superboy in the person of Gerard Christopher replacing John Haymes Newton. Bringing with him a fan's enthusiasm and delight for all things Kryptonian and aided by a writing staff that included true DC Comics superstar scribes (including Andy Helfer, Cary Bates, Denny O'Neil, and Mike Carlin), Christopher sent the show soaring up into ever-more super-heroic heights. Familiar four-color threats faced by our boy Kal-El include a now follicle challenged Lex Luthor (who makes Lana his bride decades before they did it in Smallville), Metallo, Bizarro, Mr. Mxyzptlk and Yellow Peri in this complete 26-Episode, 3-Disc Collection. Also starring Stacy Haiduk as Lana Lang and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Andy McAllister.

The series was a half-hour weekly series that aired in first-run syndication for four seasons. I remember watching it on Saturday afternoons on WWOR locally, and I just loved it. As I mentioned before in the first season review, I have not seen this series in such a long time so most of it seems so new to me. Some memorable episodes include the season premiere "With This Ring I Thee Kill," where Lex Luthor is back and he has a new face and assuming the identity of a doctor who's created a weapon called the "Superboy" gun, he kidnaps Lana, forcing her to marry him, and uses the weapon on Superboy, paralyzing him, possibly forever. In "Lex Luthor: Sentenced to Death," Professor Peterson comes to Superboy's aid and the two believe that Superboy will, with time, be able to have full use of his legs and powers again, while Luthor's back in hiding, and with the help of a new assistant, taunts Superboy with his new bride. In "Young Dracula," a young vampire, on the run from his father, becomes a doctor in the Crescent County Hospital and his father sends an older, more powerful vampire to bring him back, and Superboy and Lana are trapped in the middle of the battle. In "Bizarro...The Thing of Steel," Superboy and Professor Peterson are witness to an astounding phenomenon when the professor's duplicating ray produces Bizarro, an altered, illogical duplicate of Superboy and Bizarro's backwards thinking gets him into a lot of trouble, and Superboy must stop him.

In "Superboy's Deadly Touch," Lex Luthor strikes Superboy with a surge of solar energy that causes his powers to go out of control and Luthor plans to force a government pardon by promising to reverse the process. In "Superboy...Rest in Peace," an android is sent from the future to destroy Superboy and a female android, who knows Superboy's identity, assists him in defeating the android before he completes his mission. In "Run, Dracula, Run," Byron Shelly is mugged and loses the serum that keeps his vampire cravings at bay and when Lana and Andy go to help, Byron preys on Lana and they join forces to subdue Superboy. In "Abandon Earth," aliens claiming to be Jor-El and Lara come to Earth in search of their son Kal-El, known to the world as Superboy and their intentions are questionable, and Clark tries to ease the tension and resentment between the Kents and the aliens while he tries to acquaint himself with them. In the continuation on "Escape to Earth," the aliens take Superboy to their ship, where they're also holding Andy and Lana and when the aliens turn Superboy into Clark, Lana finds out about his secret. And in "Revenge from the Deep," an immortal being possesses Lana, and sets out to settle a score with an immortal man with whom she loved many years prior.

The episodes appear to be unedited. The episodes that run a bit longer (in the 21:50s) have a preview of next week's episode before the closing credits. Runtimes are as follows:

The packaging feels like a Superman type release. The cover is styled like a comic book--a nice shot of Superboy in the middle with the Superboy logo on top and a light red comic book style background -- all similar to the first season's style. The back of the case has a shot of Superboy and Lana, with synopsis of the series and set. We also have four episodic photos and credits are listed below them. Last time we had a box holding slim cases, but not this time. Now we just have a case holding three discs. There is no artwork on the panels but the discs have artwork. Each disc has the same shot of Superboy from the cover art and the same red style background. Disc one holds episodes 1-9, disc two holds episodes 10-18, and disc three holds episodes 19-26.

The main menu has the light comic book style red background and the same photo of Superboy from the cover art. We have the choice of Play All or choose an episode title right on the main menu, similar to all Warner Archive releases. There are no subtitles and there are five chapter stops per episode.

The video is decent, but not spectacular. The audio is crisp and not too low. If you have the first season DVD, it is just about the same as that in audio and video. As mentioned, each episode runs just under 22 minutes, with most clocking in the 21:50s. The episodes are unedited because this series was aired in first-run syndication, so no need to worry about edits here I think. Less than 22 minutes is not a problem here. As I mentioned, chapter stops are available. We also have the Viacom logo after the closing credits. The one that says "Viacom" out loud.

The first season set was loaded with special features because it was a Warner Home Video set, but on this season we have nothing. That was expected though since this is a Warner Archive made ondemand set. View our first season set review for details on the special features that were on there.

I'm so glad Warner Archive decided to continue this series on DVD. The DVDs are pressed versions right now, so hurry before and get your copy before they turn into DVD-R's. We have two more seasons left and I'm sure Warner Archive will continue it, so continue or start your collection by getting the first two seasons. I thought I'd never see it again on DVD, so thank you Warner Archive. It was fun to watch. This is a great show for fans of the Superman franchise. It's different and focuses on Clark as a boy, so you'll want to see what happens! you can help beat Lex Luthor by ordering from the link below!

(3.5/5 stars)

To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:Amazon.com

Who to Follow: Seth MacFarlane (Twitter), "The Official Twitter Page of Seth MacFarlane - based on the novel Push by Sapphire"Claim to Fame: For the longest time, Seth MacFarlane was one of the most famous people you didn't know. He started his career two decades ago at Hanna-Barbera and did some other animated work for children, until he decided to try something different, by creating and voicing many characters on the series Family Guy. The series couldn't quite succeed on the Fox lineup and was eventually canceled... only to end up back on the Fox lineup a few years later and even turned into one of the most profitable assets that any studio could ever have.Why You Should Follow Him: When we think of other animators, we often think of one dimensional people who bring us a animated series, but can't really do much else. MacFarlane has proven that wrong time and time again, even getting a chance to host the Academy Awards (no offense to Matt Groening, but you wouldn't see him doing that). Much like the comedy that MacFarlane brings his fans on Fox's Sunday
night "Animation Domination" lineup, MacFarlane never fails to entertain
on his Twitter feed. He truly is a funny (albeit a bit raunchy at times, much like Bob Saget as we featured a few weeks ago) guy, and his Tweets are usually good reads.Pick of the Tweets: "I Dream of Jeannie wouldn’t be believable today. Not 'cause the girl is a genie, but 'cause the guy is an astronaut." (December 1, 2012)And a Little Bonus: Not only is Seth on Twitter, but even his father (featured on the Family Guy episode "Road to the North Pole") is on there as well. While he doesn't Tweet nearly as often as his son, you can really tell where some of Seth's sense of humor comes from.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Yahoo! and Paramount's Insurge Pictures announced that the second season of Burning Love, the popular comedy series created by Erica Oyama that spoofs reality dating shows, will return to Yahoo! Screen (www.yahoo.com/burninglove) on Thursday, February 14, as a Valentine's Day treat. Season two features new cast members Jerry O'Connell, Michael Cera, Adam Brody, Colin Hanks, Joe Lo Truglio, Ryan Hansen, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Nick Kroll, Nick Thune, Martin Starr and Kumail Nanjiani who join returning cast members Ken Marino, June Diane Raphael, Michael Ian Black and Adam Scott in the quest to find true love. New episodes will go live every Thursday and Friday starting February 14. A trailer for the second season can be seen at its official website above.

The second season of Burning Love follows Julie (June Diane Raphael), who failed to capture bachelor Mark Orlando's heart the first time around, as she searches for love among a group of guys who are hopefully, but probably not, there for the right reasons. This installment of Burning Love is written by season one writer Erica Oyama (Childrens Hospital) and directed by Ken Marino (Childrens Hospital, Party Down). A true web hit, the first season of Burning Love launched domestically on Yahoo! Screen last summer to critical acclaim. The series media called 'ridiculously awesome' (Buzz Sugar), one of the 'top ten TV moments' (Rolling Stone) and 'a hilarious parody series' (Entertainment Weekly), followed fireman Mark Orlando (Ken Marino) in his search for the perfect woman to marry or at least be engaged. Burning Love featured an impressive line-up of comedic actors from film and television including Marino, Ben Stiller, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Michael Ian Black, Ken Jeong, Adam Scott, Abigail Spencer, Natasha Leggero, June Diane Raphael, Noureen DeWulf, Janet Varney, Kerri Kenney Silver, Paul Scheer, Beth Dover, and many more whom return for Season 3 Burning Down The House.

Watch the trailer below:

It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of January 28-February 1, 2013, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! All times listed are Eastern. So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Watch Melissa on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.

Allison Williams (Girls) - Allison is a part of the guest panel on Chelsea Lately on E! at 11pm.

Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy/American Dad!/The Cleveland Show) - Seth chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT. He will also be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.

Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly) - Billy stops by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC. He also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) - Melissa continues to make the rounds on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11pm. She will also be on Today on NBC between 7-9am to talk about her new movie Theft. Finally, she will be on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, so check your listings.

Max Greenfield (New Girl) - Max chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Fox is about pull Ben & Kate from the Tuesday night schedule effective immediately. They have announced revisions to its Tuesday night lineup, which will include the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen on Tuesday, March 12 at 8:00PM ET/PT. But before we get to that, on Tuesdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 26 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT, Fox will air all-new one-hour episodes of Raising Hope, so they'll double up on the comedy in lieu of the cancelation of Ben & Kate. Feb. 12 will have encores at 8 because of the State of the Union at 9pm ET, Feb. 19 will have an encore of New Girl at 8:30 following a new Raising Hope at 8 and on March 5 from 8-10pm, Fox will air American Idol on a special night. The Tuesday 9pm hour of New Girl and The Mindy Project will remain in their regularly scheduled time periods.

Then as mentioned, Tuesday nights heat up earlier than expected this spring when Chef Gordon Ramsay returns for the Season 11 premiere of Hell's Kitchen on Tuesday, March 12 at 8:00PM ET/PT, and it will be continued to be followed by all-new episodes of New Girl and The Mindy Project. Back to Raising Hope, it will have a one-hour season finale on a special night Thursday, March 28 from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT, following American Idol at 8. Yes, that's a full month after its last Tuesday airing on Feb. 26. Fox also says Ben & Kate will return with all-new episodes at a later date. The series will have six episodes left from its 19-episode order, but the creator and stars have said on Twitter that the series has been officially canceled. So if and when the series does return to the schedule, it will just be to burn-off the six remaining episodes. We were surprised the series was quickly picked-up for a full season very on in the season despite low ratings but the ratings didn't improve and got worse, so Fox was forced to pull the series now. Stay with us for continued updates.

The MeTV Network, the definitive classic television network, is heading to the nation's capital on WJLA (ABC7) in Washington D.C. This is the newest affiliate to join The MeTV Network, that now has clearance in each of the top ten television markets in the country, with the addition of the nation's eighth largest market of Washington D.C. The station will launch MeTV on March 1, 2013 and will be seen over-the-air on WJLA's digital subchannel on channel 7.2, replacing WeatherNow. WJLA is owned by Allbritton Communications Company and is the second station from this media group to become a MeTV affiliate. The MeTV Network now serves 141 affiliates and clears 87% of the country. In addition to being available in all top ten television markets, the network can be found in 28 of the top 30 markets in the U.S.

MeTV features a wide range of programming which audiences and advertisers find comfortable and engaging. MeTV's library includes almost 100 series from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, CBS Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Television as well as many independent series owners and producers. MeTV's line-up as you know, includes some of the most beloved television programs ever produced, including: M*A*S*H, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, and the classic Hawaii Five-O series.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

With Valentine's Day about three weeks away, The MeTV Network is getting ready as love is in the air on the MeTV Sunday Showcase! That's of course a weekly block of various themes, stunts, and marathons every Sunday from 3-7PM ET. The Valentine's stunt will be airing on Sunday, Feb. 10 from 3-7PM with various comedies showcasing episodes dealing with love and romance. Kicking it off will be an episode of The Honeymooners, where The Kramdens and Nortons visit the Wedemeyers and the wives believe their husbands are neglecting them. Following that will be an episode of Make Room for Daddy, where Terry thinks that Danny and Kathy's marriage has lost its spark, so she advises each of them to be more romantic toward the other. Then it's The Dick Van Dyke Show, as Laura and Rob plan to see a play but she gets locked in a bathroom at their hotel. Other series airing in this stunt are The Mothers-In-Law, Love American Style, I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch and The Bob Newhart Show. It's a classic Brady Bunch episode where Mike and Carol switch roles for a day in order to prove a day with the opposite sex involves much less work, as Carol must help the boys with baseball practice and Mike must help Marcia with a cooking badge. Classic!

And the week prior, on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 3), The MeTV Sunday Showcase will feature a four-hour marathon of The Donna Reed Show! That's a nice way to showcase the comedy since it airs early mornings on weekdays. Keep it right here for further updates on MeTV!

ABC's Comedy Wednesday sitcom starring Patrica Heaton airs Wednesday nights at 8:00pm and we have just watched the next episode that airs tonight (Jan. 23). The episode features The Heck family doing what they do the best, being a real family. In the episode airing tonight, "The Friend," Mike (Neil Flynn) is upset with Frankie (Patrica Heaton) when he discovers that she set him up on an adult playdate with a new neighbor (guest star David Koechner) who shares the same interests. Meanwhile, when the school cheerleaders announce that they're taking over cheering for the wrestlers - thus putting Sue (Eden Sher) and her Wrestlerettes out of business - a determined Sue demands a cheer off; and Brick (Atticus Shaffer) makes a lovesick Axl (Charlie McDermott) begin to question whether he's intellectually stimulating enough for his smart, new girlfriend.

On this hilarious all-new episode, we are presented three different storylines. And as usual, The Heck family rocks it! A couple of weeks ago the episode "Life Skills" showscased the show perfectly and this is once again one of those episode that just works very well and clicks on all cylinders. The good thing about this show is that it just feels so real. The main plot of this episode is about Frankie meeting a new couple that has moved into the neighborhood, and we all know Frankie always means well but she can be kind of meddling. She sees the husband is just a fun guy and she realizes well Mike is not. She secretly sets up a "play date" between the two and of course Mike finds out. The two get along really well, so you'll have to see what happens next! As for the kids, Sue's job as a Wrestlerette is in jeopardy when the school cheerleaders announce they will do triple duty and are now also cheering on the wrestlers because they are supposed to do well. Sue Heck is just a breath of fresh air and won't let anything stand in her way, no matter what everything thinks. She is like a perfect role model for teenage girls these days and that you don't need to be popular to have a great outlook on life. Anyway, in the end it's a cheer off when the cheerleaders battle the Wrestlerettes on who will cheer on the wrestling team. It's hilarious but also so well done! "Remember my name!" And the storyline with Brick and Axl also is fun and factual. Axl is dating a smart girl and Brick notices that all they have is a physical attraction and they don't talk, so he questions Axl saying that she might get bored soon because they don't have a friendship and intellectual stimulation. Yeah, Brick's been reading Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. He thought it was going to be a science fiction book, ha. Anyway, Axl takes Brick's advice and we get to see Axl try to have a conversation with Cassidy. How will it go? It's going to be fun, that's for sure! B+

The Middle as always is on its game. Even in its fourth season, the plots are fresh and its such a real-take on families in America, especially in middle America. I think America can really relate to the Heck family and that's why it does so well and audiences embrace it. I just wish it gets more props when everyone mentions their best current comedies. It's just as good as any comedy out there today. The Hecks are like the modern day Brady Bunch and like that show, it will be a part of pop-culture for years to come. Each member of the family is vital to the show and I always look forward every Wednesday to see what topic they deal with next, because you can always relate to something from the episode. The character of Sue Heck might go down in TV history as the most positive TV character of all-time. She may have a clueless exterior, but she knows what she is doing and that's why she's always so happy. Anyway, tune in tonight for another fine episode that we all have come to expect from this show for the last four years. The Middle is not in the middle class of comedies, it's in the high class. It's definitely deserving to be on the top 5 lists of everyone's top 5 lists for not only TV comedies, but of all TV shows on television today! Go Hecks!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

We told you that Happy Days was getting a Super Bowl marathon on Sunday, Feb. 3 on Hallmark, but now Hallmark has changed the marathon to another sitcom. Instead of Happy Days, we will now have a Super Bowl marathon of The Golden Girls on from 11am-11pm on Super Bowl Sunday. I guess the Snickers Super Bowl commercial with Betty White is still paying dividends? No actual reason for the change, but Happy Days is doing fine as it will continue to air in its current timeslots of weekdays from 2-5pm and Mon-Thurs 8-10pm. In other scheduling news, Fridays will have some changes from 12-2pm for the original shows. Marie will not air Fridays, as Laura McKenzie's Traveler will air Fridays at noon beginning Feb. 1, while new series Who Let the Dogs Out will air Fridays at 1 beginning Feb. 1. The sitcoms will stay put in their timeslots, so that's some good news!

We'll have some more good news for The Golden Girls very soon. Hopefully later this week, that will have fans possibly excited. Stay with us! Thank you for being a friend!

NBC's freshman comedy starring Matthew Perry airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm and we have just watched the next two episodes, that air tonight (Jan. 22) and next Tuesday (Jan. 29). Both episodes feature a guest-arc with Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs) and we have got the scoop on what goes down and what we think. In the episode airing tonight, "Comeback Player of the Year," Ryan (Matthew Perry) fears the group chemistry will change and feels threatened by the return of the very popular and beautiful former group member, Simone (special guest star Piper Perabo) who tries to force the group to choose between her and Ryan. Elsewhere in the episode, Ryan's friend and boss Steven (John Cho) and group member Mr. K (Brett Gelman) buddy bond and along with Terrell Owens, teach Ryan a lesson, while Anne (Julie White) prevents Danny (Seth Morris) from being taken to the cleaners in his divorce.

Piper Perabo guest stars as a former beloved (well, "she's the most awesome, coolest") member of the group and she knows everyone but newbie Ryan. She walks into the group wearing a stunning green outfit. Her character is sort of like her character on Covert Affairs, in which she just came back from traveling the globe (in this case, places like Marrakesh). At first glance, I thought it was Annie Walker herself. But that changes later on as we find out that she is sort of full of herself. I noticed right away that her and Ryan would probably make a good match, but Ryan starts off with wanting her banished from the group because all the attention is now on her. We're not sure how long she is staying but we find out she was recently engaged to a poet and on the day of their wedding...he disappeared. For now, she will be staying at Anne's (who is a lesbian...) place. As the episode progresses her character tries to pursue Ryan. We won't give much away but the entire episode is a hoot and probably the best episode of the series. All of the plotlines work well, including the B-plotline of Steven and Mr. K bonding and teaming up with NFL star Terrell Owens to get Ryan back. The other plotline of the episode is Anne trying to help Danny with his divorce, but this one isn't as interesting as the other two plotlines, but still works well. Everything comes together at the end of the episode at Anne's place where a hilarious surprise happens! Let's just say censors will have to be turned on! A-

In the episode airing next week, "Pass Interference," despite Lauren's (Laura Benanti) warning to Ryan (Matthew Perry) of no dating among group members, he continues to pursue Simone (special guest star Piper Perabo) but each time things heat-up with them, Janie's (guest star Christine Woods) ghost appears, throwing Ryan off his game. The group helps Ryan deal with the guilt he feels as he starts dating again. Meanwhile Anne (Julie White), Yolanda (Suzy Nakamura), Sonia (Sarah Baker) and Fausta (Tonita Castro) decide to buy Lauren a wedding dress and use Owen (Tyler James Williams) as a body double.

This episode isn't as good as the previous episode, but still delivers the goods. Piper Perabo wasn't in the episode as much as she was in the previous one but when she is in it, she made it count. The aftermath from the end of the last episode is dealt with and Perabo's character has gotten into the head of Ryan, but now he is seeing his deceased wife as a ghost whenever she is with Simone. And that freaks Ryan out and will that make Simone think he is crazy? The other plotline is about the gang trying to help group leader Lauren buy a wedding dress. I'm still guessing Lauren's wedding will not happen because since the premiere I always thought Ryan and Lauren would probably end up together. The episode ends in a nice way at an event where the ghost of Ryan's wife appears maybe for the last time? Not sure, but Piper Perabo killed it in that blue dress! B

Go On continues to surprise us. It's not always laugh-out-loud but it has a lot of heart and it works well. We're really invested into this group and are dying to see if they are improving. Ryan takes a big step in these two episodes and you just feel like rooting for him to get Simone. But I'm sure some core fans want him to ultimately end up with Lauren. Piper Perabo shines and is as beautiful as ever in the guest-arc that will continue for another episode at least beyond these two. The episode airing tonight is the best episode of the series. Don't go pass Go On, go right to it...you'll laugh tonight!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Late on Friday, ABC quietly pulled the next all-new episode of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 scheduled to air Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 9:30pm. Instead, ABC has opted to air a second all-new episode of Happy Endings, which is faring a bit better in the ratings. Happy Endings will be all-new and back-to-back on that night (yeah buoy!). After that, ABC already had both series preempted for Tuesday, Feb. 5 and Tuesday, Feb. 12, as on Feb. 5 they have a two-hour special for The Bachelor and on Feb. 12 President Obama has his annual State of the Union Address live at 9pm ET (ABC will air an encore of Modern Family that night at 10:30pm following the address). And if you're wondering, this Tuesday (Jan. 22) ABC has the two-hour premiere of The Taste from 8-10pm, which was already scheduled to preempt the comedies.

So anyway, after Jan. 29, the next possible date the Tuesday ABC comedies could return is Tuesday, Feb. 19. But we don't think Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 will return. Why? Well, after the two Jan. 29 episodes of Happy Endings air, the comedy would have 10 episodes left for the rest of the season. And low and behold, airing between Feb. 19 to March 19 (which is the last possible date for them to air, since Dancing with the Stars returns the next week) is 5 weeks. Do a little math and you can place all 10 remaining episodes of Happy Endings during those five weeks and double pump them back-to-back from 9-10pm. Hence, this means Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 wouldn't be on the Tuesday line-up and is pulled. While we love both comedies, frankly Happy Endings is doing better in the ratings and has more of an upside (syndication for one). That's our speculation, but you heard it here first that Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 is likely pulled on Tuesdays. If that is the case, then the sitcom has eight episodes left to air, as the series had a 13 episode order this season, plus the six remaining first season episode for a total of 19 this season (and only 11 have aired so far). Stay with us for further updates and we hope we get to see these remaining episodes of Don't Trust the B----, trust me!

FX's Thursdays comedies returned last week to some good numbers! Competing against tough competition on broadcast and cable, Anger Management's "Back-90" episode order got off to a fine start. The 9PM telecast notched 903,000 Adults 18-49 and 1.82 million total viewers, while the 9:30PM telecast increased +10% in Adults 18-49 to 994,000 while garnering 1.66 million total viewers. In addition, the season 4 premiere of Archer at 10PM delivered stellar results, repping the series' most-watched telecast ever in Adults and Men 18-49 (1.28 Million and 991,000, respectively) and Adults and Men 18-34 (882,000 and 712,000, respectively) and ranking as the #1 most-watched entertainment program last night in basic cable among both M18-49 and M18-34. Additionally, Archer ranked #1 in its time period outright [inclusive of broadcast] in both M18-49 and M18-34. Among Total Viewers (1.61 million), Archer was its second most-watched telecast ever behind only the series premiere [which had the b'cast premiere of The Simpsons Movie as its lead-in]. Then, the series premiere episode of the critically acclaimed comedy Legit at 10:30PM delivered 650,000 Total Viewers, 461,000 Adults 18-49, and 351,000 Men 18-49. The first run plus its encore airing (12:30 AM) combined to deliver 861,000 Total Viewers and 591,000 Adults 18-49.

And in late night, the return of Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell at 11:00PM outdelivered its most recent run average (7 episode which ended in mid-December) by +27% and repped the 4th most-watched telecast in Adults 18-49 out of the 14 telecasts to date. It delivered 331,000 Total Viewers and 261,000 Adults 18-49. Totally Biased climbed +27% over its Season 1B average in Adults 18-49 (10/11-11/29/12) in P18-49 (246,000 vs. 193,000), driven by a +50% jump in Men 18-49.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Week 17 (Jan. 14-20) Analysis: Top series The Big Bang Theory was a repeat as American Idol returned down from last season but still solid (and better than The Voice). We don't have final network average for Thursday, so we we can't bring you the network first four night averages above. But we can project through the first four nights, CBS has the lead in HH/total viewers, while Fox is on top in adults 18-49 thanks to the two-night/four hour Idol premiere. CBS is probably a few tenths behind for second place in 18-49, followed by ABC, then NBC a very distant fourth. Fox is second in HH/viewers, followed by ABC. Then NBC is a distant fourth and it could be a long winter for them. When the week is done, CBS will likely come back and take the week in 18-49 since they have the NFL AFC Championship Game in primetime tonight from 6:30-10pm. Fox will have to settle for second. More on that later. As for last week, week 16, CBS took home first in adults 18-49 helped by two NFL Playoff overruns on Saturday and Sunday nights, just getting by second place Fox, which had the primetime Saturday night NFL playoff game. Then NBC and ABC were well back. Among total viewers, CBS took that crown as well thanks to the overruns, while Fox was a distant second. NBC and ABC was behind Fox, but not by much

Monday saw CBS take the night as NBC and ABC battled with reality. Starting with ABC, a two-hour The Bachelor from 8-10pm did 7.49 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's season premiere. Nice. At 10pm, Castle was all-new and did 9.14 million and a solid 1.9 18-49 rating, on par with previous week in 18-49. For NBC, they had a two-hour The Biggest Loser from 8-10pm doing 6.32 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week's season premiere. At 10pm, week two of new drama Deception didn't do much with 4.14 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from its series premiere the previous week. Not good news. CBS was in all-new with its comedies, as a new How I Met Your Mother did 10.51 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is great and above normal for this season. A repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 8:30pm did 11.7 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating, which is amazing. At 9pm, a new 2 Broke Girls followed with 12.45 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, as no Dancing/Voice helps, I guess. Next, a new Mike & Molly did 11.46 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which solid but this series could do better. A new episode of Hawaii Five-0 at 10pm did 9.59 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is a good number for this season. Fox aired two all-new episodes of Bones, as at 8 it did 8.04 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, while a second episode did 7.79 million and the same 2.1 18-49 rating. Look for new series The Following in the 9pm hour tomorrow night. The CW premiered new drama The Carrie Diaries at 8 and did 1.61 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is OK but could have been better. At 9, an instant encore did 0.9 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, for some additional sampling. Look for 90210 to take over the 9pm hour tomorrow night.

On Tuesday, it was CBS with another easy win as the other networks aired comedies against each other. First for CBS, a new episode of NCIS aired at 8 did 22.86 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, near a series high in total viewers and up four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It had been quiet this fall, but without much competition, it is striving this winter. Next a new NCIS: Los Angeles at 9 did 17.63 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, but this was down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. And finally at 10pm, a new airing of freshman Vegas did 11.27 million and only a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 week-to-week. Onto ABC, at 8pm a special repeat of Modern Family did a solid 5.13 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, beating the competing new Fox comedy in total viewers and tying it in 18-49 despite being down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A repeat of Suburgatory at 8:30pm beat the new Fox comedy in total viewers with 3.17 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, but that was down a half a point in 18-49 from previous week's repeat of The Middle in the same time period. A new Happy Endings got a bit of a bump thanks to the lead-in of comedies and did 3.05 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which still could be better and down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9:30pm, a new Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 didn't do well with just 2.73 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is on par with previous week in 18-49. Private Practice was new for its penultimate episode doing only 4.1 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, up only a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. It should go up this week for sure for the series finale. I don't think ABC expects a 2, but close to it should be good. NBC aired new episodes of Betty White's Off Their Rockers from 8-9pm. At 8pm it did 5.41 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, losing to an ABC comedy repeat and down a tenth in 18-49from previous week. At 8:30pm it did better with 5.96 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, but that also was down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, a new Go On did only 4.45 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's series low. At 9:30pm, The New Normal was new and did 3.33 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's series low. Without The Voice as a lead-in, they are tanking, but at least they went up some this week. At 10pm, the penultimate episode of Parenthood did 4.96 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week. It quietly won its timeslot this fall, opposite low rated series. Fox aired comedies as well as a new Raising Hope at 8pm did 3.63 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A new Ben and Kate did horrible with 2.2 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating at 8:30pm, and also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A new episode of New Girl followed at 9 with 3.65 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is the best of the block but but good and down two tenths in 18-49 with previous week. At 9:30pm, a new The Mindy Project did 2.76 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, on par week-to-week in 18-49 but this is still a disappointment. The CW aired a new Hart of Dixie at 8 and did 1.37 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating. A new episode of new series Emily Owens MD at 9 did 1.02 million and only a 0.3 18-49 rating, which is on par in 18-49 with previous week.

Wednesday had the return of American Idol, while down, it was certainly not out. But first, CBS started the night off with a repeat of NCIS at 8pm doing 8.35 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating. At 9pm, a new Criminal Minds did a solid 12.64 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, which is below normal in 18-49. At 10pm, a new CSI did 11.14 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, just barely winning the time period. ABC kicked off the night with a new episode of The Middle doing 8.21 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is only down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week despite facing Idol. At 8:30pm a new episode of The Neighbors did 6.09 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down about three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Such a good show now. At 9pm, a new episode of Modern Family did the best of the block with 11.0 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating, which is great but down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It was the best episode of the season! Surprises galore! Suburgatory followed at 9:30pm with 6.06 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is solid but down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, Nashville was all-new and did 6.54 million and a 2.2 18-49 rating, which once again is the best it has done since the second episode and up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. On Fox, the two-hour season premiere of American Idol did a solid 17.93 million and a 6.0 18-49 rating, which is down from last season's premiere but still higher than any episode of The Voice this fall. Onto NBC a repeat (oh boy) of Whitney started it off at 8pm with 2.5 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating. At 8:30pm, a repeat of Guys with Kids did 2.26 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a repeat as well that did 2.66 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, which is terrible for a repeat for this series. At 10pm, a repeat of Chicago Fire did 3.45 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is OK. The CW aired a new airing of its new hit Arrow and did 3.06 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which beat the NBC comedy repeats and tied the CBS repeat. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 1.99 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, getting by NBC's repeat. Yep, NBC was in repeats, but still lost to The CW on this night.

On Thursday, Fox easily took the night in both 18-49 and total viewers with Idol. Starting with ABC, a new episode of Last Resort did 5.07 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week as this Thursday is the finale. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was new and did a solid 8.8 million and a 3.0 18-49 rating, also down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week...but not bad at all vs. Idol. The surging Scandal at 10pm did 7.93 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's series high but still the best 10pm ratings of the week on any network! CBS had a night of repeats and opened with a repeat of The Big Bang Theory doing 11.64 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is amazing for a repeat and most series wishes these days they can get that for a new episode. A repeat of Two and a Half Men was up next and benefited with 9.03 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating. At 9pm, a repeat of older-skewing Person of Interest followed with 9.4 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating. Should CBS opt for younger-skewing comedies next season, this series would be perfect on Tuesdays at 9 or 10. At 10pm, a repeat of freshman Elementary closed the night with 7.10 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, as I don't think a post-Super Bowl episode will give this show much of a bump. Fox had a two-hour American Idol from 8-10pm do 16.28 million and a 5.6 18-49 rating, which was down four tenths in 18-49 from the previous night but down just slightly from the Thursday premiere from last season. Glee returns this week at 9. NBC aired new episodes of its comedies, as a new 30 Rock did just 3.44 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week as there are just two weeks left for this series. At 8:30pm, the new time of Parks & Recreation was off to a decent start with 3.92 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. It's only one week, so don't get excited yet. At 9, The Office was new and did 4.15 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week despite a higher lead-in. A new episode of 1600 Penn followed with only 3.04 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, as it was down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Not good at all. And it got worse at 10pm with a new Rock Center with Brian Williams doing 4.41 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, but on par in 18-49 with previous week. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and did 2.95 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is great. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was preempted for an encore of the premiere of The Carrie Diaries that did 1.14 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but CBS took first in 18-49. New episodes of Last Man Standing and Malibu Country were down for ABC, as CBS took the hour with Undercover Boss. ABC was back to first at 9pm with a repeat of Shark Tank tying CSI: NY at 9. From 9-11pm Dateline did OK on NBC, growing at 10pm. CBS took 10pm with Blue Bloods and ABC 20/20 was down. The Fringe two-hour series finale was a distant fourth for Fox as it only got a prelim 1.0 18-49 rating...ouch.
Saturday was very low rated with no network averaging over 1. Fox's two episodes of Cops took the night from 8-9pm, while CBS took 10pm with 48 Hours. ABC did OK for Saturday edition of 20/20 at 8. NBC didn't do much with repeats of Deception, Chicago Fire and SVU.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new with its normal line-up of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Revenge but 10pm has a special repeat of Shark Tank. Look for a second place finish behind CBS's coverage of the AFC Championship Game. NBC devotes the night to four hours of The Biggest Loser repeats, which is likely a distant fourth place finish. CBS as mentioned is preempting its normal 60 Minutes,The Good Wife & The Mentatlist for coverage of the NFL AFC Championship Game from 6:30-10pm, followed by a special all-new Hawaii Five-0 at 10. CBS will easily be #1. Fox's animation block is all repeats from 7-10pm and could battle NBC for third but I think Fox will take third.

As for the week (week 17), CBS will likely take first in 18-49 thanks to the playoff game tonight obviously, as Fox will have to settle for second despite having the Idol premiere. ABC and NBC will be behind. For total viewers, it should be CBS on top here as well, then likely ABC, Fox and NBC in that order. As for the coming week (week 18), we have some series premieres! Look for Fox to premiere new drama The Following tomorrow night at 9 and ABC to premiere new reality entry The Taste on Tuesday from 8-10. Some finales this week as well, including series finale for Private Practice and Last Resort and the season finale for Parenthood.

Week 17 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 16 -- Jan. 7-13)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A new episode at 8 did 5.04 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, down 1.8 points in 18-49 from previous week when it was following NFL Wildcard Playoff action.

The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A new episode at 7:30pm did just 2.66 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating.

Bob's Burgers (Fox) 2 airings - At 8:30, a new episode did 4.44 million and 2.3 18-49 rating, which is down about eight tenths in 18-49 from previous week when it was inflated because of NFL. A repeat earlier in the night at 7 did only 2.11 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating.

Family Guy (Fox) - A new episode at 9 did 6.01 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is down about four tenths in 18-49 week-to-week.

American Dad! (Fox) - A 9:30pm airing was new and did 4.82 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is also down about four tenths in 18-49 from the previous week.

Happy Endings (ABC) - The second new airing on Sundays did only 2.07 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week for a series low. The final Sunday airing has been pulled tonight, as the series will remain on Tuesdays only.

Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - A new episode at 10:30pm did 1.76 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, also down a tenth in 18-49 from previous for a series low. And the last Sunday airing is not airing tonight. There is a chance we won't see it back on Tuesdays either.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A new episode at 8 did 10.51 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, which is above average for this season.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A special Monday repeat at 8:30pm did amazing with 11.7 million and a 3.7 18-49 rating.

2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A new episode at 9 did 12.45 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, which is helped by the stronger lead-in obviously and also not facing The Voice/Dancing.

Mike & Molly (CBS) - A new airing at 9:30pm did 11.46 million and a 3.5 18-49 rating, which given the lead-in, could have been a bit higher in 18-49.

Tuesday Sitcoms

Raising Hope (Fox) - A new episode at 8 pulled 3.63 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week and again only good enough to tie an ABC sitcom repeat in the half-hour.

Modern Family (ABC) - A special 8pm repeat did 5.13 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week and beating the new Fox airing in total viewers & tying it in 18-49 again.

Ben and Kate (Fox) - A new 8:30pm airing did only 2.2 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which was down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Suburgatory (ABC) - A special repeat at 8:30pm did 3.17 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week's The Middle encore in the same timeslot.

New Girl (Fox) - A new showing at 9 did just 3.65 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a series low.

Go On (NBC) - A new episode at 9 without The Voice as a lead-in, did only 4.45 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, but up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week.

Happy Endings (ABC) - A new episode at 9pm did 3.05 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. I think this show deserves to air after comedies instead of on an island.

The Mindy Project (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 2.76 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, once again on par with previous week but continues to be a huge disappointment.

The New Normal (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 3.33 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, as it went up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) - A new airing at 9:30pm didn't do much with just 2.73 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, but on par with previous week in 18-49. At this point, I would just save Happy Endings and I think that is what ABC will do by pulling this show soon.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8 did 8.21 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which was down only a tenth in 18-49 against Idol.

Whitney (NBC) - A repeat at 8 did 2.5 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, which is not good for a repeat.

The Neighbors (ABC) - A new showing of this new comedy did 6.09 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week though. Still one of the surprises of the season in quality.

Guys with Kids (NBC) - At 8:30pm, a repeat of this series did 2.26 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, which is not good but at least it grew but a tenth in 18-49 from its lead-in!

Modern Family (ABC) - A new episode at 9 did 11.0 million and a 4.3 18-49 rating. Got a little dented by Idol, but still strong and could come back higher this week with Idol likely going down.

Suburgatory (ABC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 6.06 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, which is solid but down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week.

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - At 8pm, a repeat did 11.64 million and a 3.2 18-49 rating, which is excellent and better than most series' new episodes. It won't be new this week either...so it won't face Idol until the 31st.

Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A repeat did 9.03 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, not bad for a repeat.

30 Rock (NBC) - A new episode at 8 only mustered 3.44 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down two tenths week-to-week, as we get ready for the series finale on Jan. 31.

1600 Penn (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm didn't do well with 3.04 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, down four tenths from the previous week. I don't think this show will be lasting.

The Office (NBC) - A new episode did 4.15 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Parks & Recreation (NBC) - The move to 8:30pm did decent doing 3.92 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating. That was even above its last 9:30 airing. Good sign? One week is not the answer, so we'll have to keep an eye.

Friday Sitcoms

Last Man Standing (ABC) - A new episode did a prelim 7.05 million and a prelim 1.5 18-49 rating, about a tenth better in 18-49 from previous week's prelim ratings.

Malibu Country (ABC) - A new episode of this new comedy did a prelim 6.15 million and a prelim 1.4 18-49 rating, up two tenths or so in 18-49 from previous week's prelim ratings.

1600 Penn (NBC) 2 airings - The first two episodes repeated, with the 8pm airing doing a prelim 3.13 million and a prelim 0.8 18-49 rating. A second repeat did a prelim 2.92 million and a prelim 0.9 18-49 rating.

Saturday Sitcoms

None

Airing tonight (Sunday) are repeats of Fox Animation Domination comedies from 7-10pm following a repeat at 7.

Summing it up. Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The Middle, Mike & Molly were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Go On, The Office) or just plain terrible (such as Ben & Kate, 1600 Penn, 30 Rock).

Last Man Standing - "Help Wanted" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Since losing her teaching job, Vanessa has been spending her time hovering over the family, and it’s driving everyone nuts. Over at Kristin and Ryan’s house, Ryan and Kyle are wrapped-up in a zombie face-off to determine who knows the most about zombies and how to survive an apocalypse. Unable to land a new gig, Vanessa becomes discouraged, but Mike does everything he can to get her back doing what she loves.

Dr. Ken - "Ken's Apology" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Ken wants to apologize to a patient for missing an important medical detail, Pat advises against it, and the situation gets out of hand. Meanwhile, D.K. shakes things up at Dave’s parent/teacher conference.